The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has taken decisive action against corruption, dismissing two senior officials and suspending others following a high-profile investigation into the theft and illegal sale of 11 government-owned vehicles.
The crackdown, spearheaded by NPHIL Director General Dr. Dougbeh Christopher Nyan, resulted in the termination of George Watson, Special Assistant to the Deputy Director for Administration, and Pewee Quaqua, Director of Logistics. Additionally, Darlington Bah, Deputy Director for Logistics, has been indefinitely suspended, while three drivers—Alexander Jisay, Jerome Ponney, and Kennedy Gayflor—were handed three-month suspensions without pay.
An investigative committee, comprising representatives from the Liberia National Police, the Internal Audit Agency, and NPHIL’s senior management, uncovered evidence of fraudulent activity, including the use of forged General Service Agency (GSA) documents to sell NPHIL vehicles for personal gain.
In a statement issued Tuesday, January 14, Dr. Nyan vowed to uphold integrity within the institution. “Corruption will have no place at NPHIL under my watch, as this undermines our progress. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards,” he declared.
The investigation also implicated Dr. Adams K. Lincoln, Deputy Director General for Administration, as the alleged mastermind behind the scheme. Dr. Lincoln is accused of falsifying GSA documents to claim a government vehicle and orchestrating the illegal removal and sale of public assets. The committee has recommended his dismissal to President Joseph Boakai.
The dismissed employees have been referred to the Ministry of Justice for potential prosecution and restitution of stolen property. Dr. Nyan has urged the NPHIL Board of Directors and the Ministry of Justice to support ongoing efforts to root out corruption, aligning with Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which emphasizes transparency and accountability in governance.
This bold move underscores NPHIL’s commitment to safeguarding public resources and restoring public trust in its operations.
